Jordan Free eager to get back on field

[PonyPride]

Senior guard Jordan Free, who spent spring workouts working at left guard with SMU’s first-team offensive line, has been sitting out preseason workouts with a back injury, and said that while his return to the practice field is not imminent, he fully expects to be back on the field in time to be ready for the Mustangs’ season opener against Baylor.

"I have a bulging disk in my back," he said. "I was squatting too much weight - four (repetitions) by 500 pounds. I have done that a lot of times before, but I had just power cleaned pretty heavy right before that, so my back was kind of tight, I guess."

The injury occurred about two-and-a-half weeks ago, but Free said that no surgery is required and he fully expects to be back on the field by the time SMU’s fall semester starts Aug. 20, which he said would be in plenty of time to be ready for the Mustangs’ season opener in Waco, despite the fact that he has yet to take part in a preseason practice.

"I worked with (Palcic) in the spring, and I have been watching film and watching practice this week," Free said. "I’m used to playing with (left tackle Ben) Gottschalk and (center Taylor) Lasecki, so I think I can get that timing back pretty quick.

"I’m just trying to take (rehab) slow. When I sit down, I can still feel the nerve pinch a little, but it’s getting better. I’ll be ready."

[kull]

hope he has a speedy recovery

[Charleston Pony]

need all the big guys healthy; especially those who have some game experience

[Otto]

For the most part, we know very little about this guy, because his experience is limited. But somehow, I get the feeling he's going to have a pretty solid year.